Pro Cycling

Contador Visits California

World's most dominant stage racer makes special trip to Golden State.

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(Photo by Contador on Tuesday during a Twitter ride near the Golden Gate Bridge. (Robertson/VeloDramatic))

Sausalito, Cali. (Bicycling.com) — After his ride around Sausalito on Tuesday afternoon, the world's greatest bike racer, Alberto Contador, sat down for an informal press conference with a small group of journalists. It was a rather special occasion, in part because it's one of Contador's few trips ever to California, and also because he's been keeping a pretty low media profile ahead of his November court date for a doping positive in last year's Tour de France.

Contador remains optimistic that he'll beat the case. He also expects that the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) will change the rules on clenbuterol, though the agency decided for 2012 not to set an allowable level for clenbuterol. Any amount found in an athlete’s body will continue to be a doping violation, just as it was in 2010 when Contador tested positive.

Contador’s ambitions in the grand tours rule out a focus on the one-day races and hamper his ability to compete with riders of Philippe Gilbert’s type who peak specifically for the big one-day races. Victory in the world championship road race would be a dream come true for Contador, but in recent years, the courses have rarely suited climbers like him. Contador does hope to carry his Tour de France form to next year’s London Olympics where he has his eye on the time trial.

Following is a transcript of Tuesday's press conference with Contador. Bike manufacturer Specialized had its team liaison, Simon Toccafondi, on hand to provide translation.

You planned your whole season this year, it seemed, around the arbitration that was supposed to happen in June. In retrospect, now that the arbitration is in November, do you wish you had focused more on the Tour de France?

No, I am very happy with the results I achieved at the Giro. My intention was to do the Giro anyway, to build form for the Tour. But then when I got there, I realized that the Giro was difficult and I didn’t expect it. And, for me, it is very difficult not to compete. The Giro was hard.

Do you think it is possible to win the Giro and the Tour in the same season?

Yes, I believe it is possible to win the Giro and the Tour. There are many important factors. The course has to be good for my characteristics. The same thing at the Tour; the course is very important. I also have to have a very strong team for the Tour and for the Giro, so that I can be protected, and can be ready for the important days.

You mentioned the need for a strong team. Are you doing anything to beef up the team for next year? Are there any new riders that you know of?

I talk with Bjarne daily. Bjarne is working pretty hard to improve the level of the team. Before too long, I hope we will have some announcements.

So you work with Bjarne really closely?

Yes. It is clear that it is Bjarne who has the burden of hiring riders, but before he signs a rider, he talks to me first.

Where Contador goes, so goes the media scrum. (Robertson/VeloDramatic)

Pat McQuaid has called for an independent tribunal to decide doping cases instead of the national federations. That has particular impact in a case like yours. Is that an appropriate move by the UCI?

If there is a high level objectivity, that could be really good. It could be faster, and everything could be more under control. But there would still be the need for an external organization that ensures that everything is done in an appropriate way.

A question for Fran Contador (Alberto’s older brother), what do you remember of Alberto as a teenager riding bikes?

Fran: I remember the very first days, when he started to join the group ride. Alberto didn’t have cycling clothing. One day, it was 60 kilometers, and Alberto was wearing a training jacket and it was very big and it was catching a lot of air. So, he was this little kid with this big jacket. And he held on with the group, to ride in that condition, everyone thought, he must be really strong.

Would it change your situation in relation to your doping case if an independent tribunal already existed?

I don’t know. I can’t really answer this question. There are too many variables. For sure, I believe what the UCI is trying to do could definitely speed up the process. But I don’t know if my situation could be solved faster.

Both WADA and the UCI have appealed in your case, and very few have won cases at the Court of Arbitration of Sport against both the UCI and WADA. Do you feel confident that you can win the case?

I am very confident, because of all the controls. The scientific facts are supporting my case, and I am confident also because of all the experts who support my case. I believe it’s going to be a favorable resolution to the case because of these factors.